River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-02-17
The Coteaux and White Earth Country

"
Prospect Butte is twenty eight miles
west OF Minot, Dakota, and its dome
shaped summit can be seen for miles
around. 1t marks the eastern line of
Fort Stevenson Indian Reservation,
and seems to have been an objective
point for the engineer of the new line
OF the st. Paul, Minneapolis aud Man
itoba railway, for the pegs set for the
preliminary surveys, nearly converge
on the north side of the butte, where
the road is now graded and ready for
the rails.
We assembled the butte and found
the view from the summit very fine.
To the north is the grassy plain ex-
tending To the DeLacs River, twenty
miles, To the eastward the Mouse Riv-
or and the wOudrously fertile inter.
Venlng plain reaching 10 its base, while
To the south and west are the COteaux.
"A confused mass of stony hills, set
down apparently without the slightest
order or regularity. Lakes are very
numerous n the COteaux, seventeen
being in view from the summit of the
butte alone. For the next eighteen
miles our way lies through these Cot.
eauX. Weiind them well covered with
grass, while the intervals between
| their bases are either occupied by lakes
, or natural hay meadows. These lakes
vary in size from five 10 five hundred
acres and are filed with the purest
and best of water. With its perfect
shelter, abundance of grass and water.
this will certainly be paradise for
the stOckman. This kind of country
continued for an hour or SO, when sud
denly, the hills broke down into gen.
| tie undulating and then into a smooth
level plain extending for miles in ad.
vance, and we are on the west side of
the COteiuX and on the Missouri slope
We named the plain "Rich Valley"
and well does il deserve the name. for
with the exception of the land east of
the hills, a finer country we have new
er yet seen-smooth, level and with
ont stick or stone. We are surprised
| at the depth of soil, for the scrapers
on the railroad grade, though often at
depth of three feet, have not gone
through the rich, black soil.
1t is just at sun set when we arrive
at the White Earth River, eighty
miles west of Minot and at the grad
| ing camp of friendly contractor. give
our jaded mustangs a much needed
| rest. The White Earth runs between
high bluffs, frequently numbered with
ash, box elder and aspen. Here has
been great camping ground of our
wards. the Indians, and traces of their
| occupancy are found along the river
| beads, arrows, brass ornaments, and
| frequently skull or other remains.
| Heavy beds of Ignite coal, on fire in
one place, crop out in the bluff, and
| fine springs burst forth from nearly
every connecting ravine. The river
marks the western line of the reserva-
ton and west toward Fort Buford,
seventy-five miles away, the country is
open for settlement and much similar
in soil and confguration to the fine
country just passed over. We are
now well into the country of the warm
"chinnock" winds, blowing at inter
walls during the whole winter. The
White Earth country is excellently
adapted to stock raising and many fine
sites are open for the grain raiser and
ranchman, several of whom, including
one ranchman with 1900 sheep, have
already awaited themselves of its adj.
vantages.-St. Paul Globe.